
LESSONS IN GALATIANS.
17
the
LESSON QUARTERLY
says so; but you are to study the text
until you can see for yourself that the things noted are there, and
see them forever afterward, without any reference to the lesson
notes. It is all in the text; of that you may be assured; if you
study sufficiently in the right way, and with the right motive,
you will need no assurance of the fact.
'Let us in the first place analyze the chapter, so as to get a
general view of it. To begin with, we have the comprehensive
greeting, covering the first five verses. Next, the expression of
surprise at the disaffection of the Galatians, which at the same
time reveals the nature and the cause of their disaffection. Verses
6, 7. Then comes the anathema against the preachers of any
other professed gospel. Verses 8, 9. Verses ro-12 tell us the source
of the Gospel that Paul preached, and show whose servant he
was. The remainder of the chapter (verses 13-24) contains a short
narrative of Paul's personal experience, covering his manner of
life before his conversion (verses 13, 14), the conversion itself
(verses 14, 15), and how he was occupied for three years afterward
(verses 17-24), special stress being laid on the fact that he had no
personal acquaintance with the other apostles and brethren, so
that •he did not learn the Gospel that he preached from them.
This will serve as,a general outline of the chapter, and will help
to bind the details together.
•
Note that this first chapter shows that the question at issue
was the Gospel. It, was the crisis for the churches in Galatia.
The question was, Should they continue the Gospel of Jesus
Christ, which is the power of God unto salvation to every one that
believeth, or should they be perverted by accepting a false gospel,
which could be only the power of men, and therefore lead to
destruction? Shall God have the glory, or men?
Many questions may be asked from the text, without turning
to any other portion of the Bible, but only a few by way of sug-
gestion will be given here. Besides these, let questions be asked
to bring out every item in each verse.
What is the first natural division of the chapter?
Mention some of the things that it includes.
What does it tell about Paul? What about God? What about
Jesus Christ? What about ourselves? What about this world?
What wonderful comfort does it contain for all sinners?
What is the second topic? What do we learn from it as to the
condition of the Galatian churches?
What do we learn from the third division, as to the Gospel?
What is the fourth division? What does this show us as to
Paul's receiving the Gospel? What about his relation to God,
and to Christ? What lesson has it for us?
What does the last portion of the chapter cover? Give the
details as stated by the apostle.